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IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ENOUGH TO COMBAT ADDICTION?

With the opioid crisis being declared a national emergency, Donald Trump has promised to “spend a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of money on the opioid crisis.” The first lady also tweeted on September 1 that this is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and that “together we can strengthen families and communities and beat addiction. Clearly more needs to be done.”

Ryan Hampton, a public advocate for recovery, told the Huffington Post that “recovery advocacy has followed in the footsteps of civil rights movements like the suffragettes, racial equality, and the fight for gay rights. We are working towards harm reduction measures that save lives and give people a chance to get sober. Weare fighting for equal access to treatment…We are fighting for equal standing in a society that shuns and excludes people with substance abuse disorder.”

So what can be done to make the fight against addiction stronger?

Hampton writes, “The changes we need to make to save the lives of millions of Americans include reforms in the pharmaceutical industry, the treatment industry, the medical and insurance industries, and criminal justice.”

Not putting people in jail who need help, and helping people get treatment that can’t afford it, “aren’t difficult concepts”, Hampton continues, “but executing them requires a massive shift in our nation’s approach to addiction.”

Alarmingly, Hampton points out that this year drugs have “taken the lives of more American’s than the entire Vietnam War. And that number is still rising.”

Hampton also points out that “22 million people [are] desperately in need of treatment”, and there are also 23 million more in long term recovery in our country.

Awareness is one thing, but Hampton tells the Post that the government should come up with a strong plan to combat addiction, whatever side of the political fence you stand. “Facing addiction is a bipartisan issue”, Hampton says. “No matter where we stand politically, this is bigger than party membership…We need more than words to do this. We need many hands and everyone’s help.”

For more information and to get the help you need now, contact Elemental Treatment for a free assessment of your symptoms as well as your insurance benefits and coverage. Give us a call today, 855-338-9521

Elemental Treatment
Article by Elemental Treatment

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